Petron Foundation, Inc.

In 2015, Petron sustained its leadership role in the implementation of the Bataan Integrated Coastal Management Program (BICMP), a partnership with the Provincial Government of Bataan and the United Nations Development Programme’s Partnerships on Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia or PEMSEA. Its activities included guiding Bataan’s local government units in developing and implementing their respective zoning plans in accordance with the Bataan Coastal Land and Sea Use Zoning Plan and the Bataan Sustainable Development Strategy. One of the highlights for this year was the completion of the State of the Coasts (SoC) Report for the province of Bataan, with the support of the PEMSEA Resource Facility. The SoC reporting system is a tool that local governments can use in the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of their ICM programs. This provides baseline conditions and priorities to be addressed in an ICM program, and helps LGUs to measure and report progress and impacts of their ICM implementation.

Also in Bataan, Petron partnered with the Provincial Government, Municipal Government of Limay, PENRO-Bataan, And People’s Organizations SAMASAKA (Samahang Magsasaka Sa Kagubatan Ng Limay, Bataan, Inc.) and AFPAI (Alangan Farmers Producers Association, Inc.) to reforest a total of 300 hectares to protect the watershed of Limay. Through this and along with other tree and mangrove planting activities conducted by Petron Operations personnel nationwide throughout 2015, Petron remained active in its support to DENR’s goal of planting 1.5 billion trees from 2011 to 2016 under the National Greening Program.

Petron’s success in Bataan has been replicated in Boracay, the Philippines’ premier tourist destination.

Petron and San Miguel Corporation (SMC), in partnership with the Province of Aklan, the Municipality of Malay, and Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) launched the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) on September 25, 2010. Together, we proactively take part in preserving the island’s pristine natural environment.

BBMP focuses on seven priority programs that address the critical needs of the island: water and waste water management; hazard prevention; coastal resource management; watershed management; solid waste management; effective governance; and information, education and communication. It has since been institutionalized by the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay through S.B. Resolution No. 023 “Adopting the Boracay Beach Management Program of the Local Government.”

PFI also partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and City Government of Marikina, Petron supports the Adopt-An-Estero/River Program for the Marikina River and the National Greening Program.

Through this program, we undertake environmental improvement on vital water tributaries leading up to Marikina River, starting with the four-kilometer Concepcion Creek. The program provides for two major components: engineering (through the dredging of these creeks and the rehabilitation of their banks and easements) and community engagement (through information and education campaigns, community mobilization activities, and trainings for concerned stakeholders in support of the program).

Our participation in the Adopt-An-Estero program, as well as in the government’s National Greening Program, is nationwide in scope. Petron employees and partners in all its facilities nationwide commit to undertaking activities in their respective locations to clean up the rivers and their tributaries and contribute to the program’s goal of planting 1.5 billion trees from 2011 to 2016.

Beyond this, we regularly lead coastal cleanups, tree and mangrove planting, localized Earth Hour activities, environmental awareness programs and other nature-friendly initiatives in our depots across the country.

PFI has been planting trees and mangrove propagules through its terminals and members of the Volunteers In Action (VIA) program annually, since the early 90’s. While forest degradation is still rampant around the country, PFI decided to focus on a new CSR environment program as it partnered with government and communities on mangrove conservation and restoration efforts through the “Puno ng Buhay Program.”

Launched in November 2016 with the aim to rehabilitate decimated mangrove sites by training coastal residents and mangrove users within Petron’s communities, the program also aims to increase their knowledge and technical skills about mangrove management and conservation. This includes proper site identification, mangrove planting and conservation techniques, as well as effective protection procedures to enhance the mangrove’s sustainability.  Coastal communities are mobilized to implement the program, with the Local Government Unit (LGU) overseeing the whole program implementation with the support of Petron and the DENR. As an incentive, Puno ng Buhay also provides an additional source of livelihood for residents of coastal areas.

The program piloted in Anibong, Tacloban City, where 7,500 mangrove propagules were successfully planted in the proposed 3-hectare mangrove site. Due to the pilot’s success, Petron adopted 25 hectares of mangrove forest in Ivisan, Capiz with hopes to expand our project in other regions as well. As of March 2018, 20,000 Avicennia marina propagules have been planted in our adopted 10-hectare mangrove forest in Bgy. Agustin Navarra, Capiz.

Petron has also trained its communities to help our partners monitor and measure each forests’ carbon capture to help them appreciate the importance of reforestation and its role in reversing climate change. Based on the latest records from our carbon capture measurements, the results show that the Tacloban mangrove forest can capture up to 14 tons of carbon per hectare, and our site in Ivisan can potentially capture up to 80 tons of carbon per hectare.

The program is set to expand to more Petron communities nationwide.